Mad Men Season 5 Delayed?

Since there is no deal between Lionsgate and series creator Matthew Weiner yet, it is very likely that season 5 of the AMC drama will be delayed.

The show typically starts shooting in the spring and debuts in July, but without an agreement for a new season in place the company will probably have to delay debuting the next batch of episodes. If a deal is reached, it is likely that the show will not air until late 2011 or even early 2012.

People involved in the talks suggested this week that one or both deals may be imminent, but that may not be enough to ensure a summer start. Todd Gold, the editor in chief of XfinityTV.com, Comcast’s television news site, said it was becoming clear that the show was “right on the cusp of going one way or the other.”

“By now, the writing staff should be humming along, maybe about a month or more into work for a summer premiere,” he said. “Unless Weiner is secretly manufacturing outlines in preparation of some crazy all-night writing sessions with his staff, it might be time for fans to grow concerned.” NYT

Series lead Jon Hamm recently told EW that “We’re still in limbo. Usually we start shooting in April or May, and it doesn’t seem like it’s happening now because the writers’ room is not in place.”